Boonville, NY -- A Boonville man was charged in connection with a fire that destroyed one building and damaged another in the village Thursday, the Utica Observer Dispatch reports.

David Geer, 34, started the fire with a cigarette and a mattress in his apartment at 167 Main St., village police told the paper. Police also said Geer prevented his neighbors from trying to come into the apartment to put the fire out.

Geer never reported the fire to 911 and allegedly removed his valuables form the apartment before leaving, police said.

The fire started at 2:30 a.m., Thursday. It destroyed the Main Street apartment building and damaged an adjoining two-story apartment building that also housed a hair salon.

No one was injured in the fire, but many residents lost everything and some lost their pets, police said.

Geer was charged with felony arson and was arraigned in Steuben Town Court. He was taken to the Oneida County jail on $5,000 bail, police said.

An investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending, police said.